The Shop Is Now Open!

Well its been and gone, and Im pleased to say Launch Day at The Sewing Boutique went better than I ever hoped for!  Orders kept me busy all day, email enquiries about products and fabrics came in and most of all, lots of people emailed me, tweeted me and facebooked me wishing me luck.

So if you havent already, take a look and see what you think.  We hope there's something there you will like and be tempted by.

I had a lovely surprise in the post yesterday.  This arrived from my lovely friend Twinkle Star to wish me luck...

 

Thank you so much Twinkle Star!!  There it is taking pride of place on my first craft stall of the season, which was today.  Had a lovely day chatting to some other crafty people, talking fabrics and buttons, made quite a few sales and ate a few cupcakes!

The Launch Day Giveaway is now in full swing over at The Sewing Boutique Blog so if you like a freebie (and it is a good one even if I do say so myself!) go over and check it out!

Now that things might be not so manic Im hoping to get back to my sewing machine this week!  My sister really wants a bag made up for her knitting and I've found a lovely pattern in the Tilda Sew Pretty Homestyle book that Im dying to try out.  My poor sewing machine is sobbing at the minute, its had so little attention.

So, until next time.... x x

The Beautiful City Of Bath

I've just come back from the most amazing weekend in Bath.  Hubby treated me to a weekend away to a) catch up on some much needed sleep and b) to celebrate my 30th birthday.  Bath came on great recommendation from my mother in law and also, I'd heard about not one, but two amazing fabric shops in the centre of Bath, not far from where we booked to stay.

Bless my hubby for putting up with me all day saturday as we literally, walked miles around Bath town centre looking for the Country Threads shop, but we found it!!  He swiftly left me to it while I wandered around the huge selection of fabrics they have.

In my excitement I forgot to take a photo, photo from Local Data Search

A very small selection of the fabrics they have

We also visited The Makery Emporium and there was such a lovely sound of laughter coming from upstairs as a hen party learnt how to sew.

Too gorgeous!

I was very restrained, could have spent a fortune but came away with this little lot...

My creative brain went into overdrive when I bought all this! 

Love this pink print and it was such a bargain

As if this wasnt enough to satisfy my fabric cravings, imagine my complete delight when we stumbled across Cath Kidson!  Now I've only ever lusted after her products online, so to be able to wander round a shop was complete heaven.  I came away with her Sew! book that I've envied on many a blog.  

I had a quick flick through back at the hotel and decided on this as my first project...

A large tote bag.  I've been looking for a pattern for a tote for ages (although could probably work it out if pushed!) so this looks perfect.  Not sure my sewing skills are up to the pockets involved but will give it my best!

It's such a long time since hubby and I spent any time together on our own since the girlies have come along, so aside from visiting two amazing fabric shops and being totally inspired, we enjoyed lovely meals, pub lunches and some really lovely sight seeing in what is really a beautiful city.

Bath Abbey

Sally Lunn's - Baths oldest house

Bath Abbey - so beautiful at night

Thanks for reading!

x x

Going To Try Something New

Hello lovely blog followers!  It has been over a week since my last blog, but I promise you I have not been (completely) slacking!  Lots going on The Sewing Boutique front which has meant not much sewing.  Lots of fabric and ribbon deliveries though (yey!) and some accounts (boo).

However, last night I had an unexpected hour to myself (iron decided to malfunction - oh well!) and I had been dying to try out this tutorial for fabric headbands.  It looked so simple and something I could whip up in a jiffy (?!) and I had just the fabric/person in mind for it.

So, here it is, my fabric headband, made from gorgeous vintage fabric I found on Etsy, expertly modelled by my lovely sis x x

Now I will make one small confession, in my excitement at being back at my sewing machine, I sewed the seam on the outside.  However, as you can see, my sisters turned it round and it looks fine!

Now onto something new.  Since I started to enjoy/become obsessed with sewing, which wasnt all that long ago, there's been one aspect of if that boggles my mind - quilting.  Patchwork quilting to be exact.  I could never understand how it came together.  So, whilst browsing in Asda yesterday I came across this...

I've missed issue 1 but may have to buy it on back issue.  I just wanted something I could read and hopefully learn how to build up a beautiful quilt!  My best friend is having a baby in April so I'd like to make a baby quilt once he/she is born (it will be for his/her cot so I'll have at least six months before it has to be finished!)

If any of you lovely people have any tutorials or know of any youtube videos that may help me that would be great.  I've found a few but theres nothing like a good recommendation!

So thats it, my next crafty challenge!!  Im already planning my monthly make for February (will be another gift for my sister - actually its more of a request this time!) so all is good in my craft world.

Until next time x x

The Sewing Boutique

Coming Soon at The Sewing Boutique

p.s. are you following The Sewing Boutique Blog??  Look out for details of our launch day giveaway and discount code!!

A Giveaway You Wont Want To Miss!

Thank you all so much for your kind words following my announcement yesterday.  If at all possible, Im even more excited now!  If any reassurance that Im doing the right thing was needed, you guys gave me it!  THANK YOU!!

My lovely bloggy/real friend Stel over at Twinkles, Tutorials and Twirls is having a fab giveaway to see in the New Year and mark her change in blog name!  (previously Twinkles, Tutus and Twirls.  The giveaway includes...

Handmade gift tags and blinged up lavender star

Beautiful handmade twirling wand and matching headband

So cute pink ric rac rose ring.

 ...and thats to name but a few of the fab prizes!  So head on over there right now to enter!  The winner is being announced on 26th January.

In other news, I was featured on a fab blog yesterday called Creative Itch.  Misty at Creative Itch runs a linky party called Sew Cute Tuesday and now and again, I link up.  Last Tuesday I thought I'd link up the embroidery hoop I made for my sister for Christmas and, much to my surprise, it was featured yesterday!  I am now proudly displaying the "Featured On" button on my sidebar and have had some lovely comments through it.  So thank you to Misty!!

I do love my crafty life!

x x

An Announcement....of sorts

You may remember me mentioning big plans for me for 2012 (blog post here) Well, I can't do it, I can't keep a secret any longer! Im not the best at keeping secrets at the best of times but when Im so excited about something I find it nigh on impossible (Christmas is torture for me!!). 

So, I would like to announce to you, my lovely followers and bloggy friends, that on Thursday 1st March 2012 I will be opening for business as....

The Sewing Boutique will sell gorgeous fabrics, fab habdash and lots of lovely buttons and ribbons!  I'll also be stocking some vintage fabrics I've come across so keep an eye out for those as they will be one offs (I'll struggle to part with these!)  Im so excited about my little sewing supplies shop and am so looking forward to watching it grow.  I've got a business plan, marketing outline and everything, feels quite grown up!

Initially it will be online and at craft fayres, with the view to eventually getting a permanent "presence" at one of my local indoor markets.  Who knows, one day I may even have a bricks and mortar shop!!  (I can dream)  As I said, the site will launch on 1st March (also St. Davids Day here in Wales!) and I've had the ok to sell from my usual craft fayres so the first one will be Saturday 3rd March.  I cant wait!

Ooooh lots of shiny findings, soon to be on my site!

The last year, and certainly since I started this blog back last March 2010, I'll be honest, I didnt know what direction it would take.  All I knew was, I really enjoyed being "crafty" and making things for my little ones.  I then had the idea that I would try selling my items at craft fayres and online and had much more success than I thought I would!  (seriously it still amazes me now that people want to part with their cash for something I've made)  I discovered I enjoyed making stock for craft fayres but not so much the stress that went with it.  I get enough of that from my day job and two children!!

One of the lovely fabrics that will soon be in stock

 

The idea to stock fabrics originally came from all the lovely people who would stop to chat at my stall.  All would say how lovely my things were, a few would buy, but so many would then go on to say how they love to sew and make things.  I think craft fayres do attract other crafty types.  So it was while searching for fabrics, felts, buttons etc. that I decided I would create The Sewing Boutique.  Currently I am in the process of building the website, ordering stationary, samples of fabrics are arriving daily and I will soon be putting a BIG order in for fabrics from suppliers I've sourced from all over the world.  Im like a kid in a sweet shop, I keep having to tell myself that this will NOT be my own private fabric stash!

I will still be making though, for the shop and indeed for this blog!  I will be sharing with you regularly what I've made as well as what cupcakes I have tried making!  As you may have noticed I've signed up for the Monthly Makes 2012 and am so looking forward to crafting for myself and the girls again.   

Cant WAIT for this fabric to be in my stash...I mean in stock!!

So there you have it my lovely friends, thats what I have been working on for the last few months and indeed, what I've got planned for 2012.

I'll be blogging regularly about my progress over at the blog to support the shop, which if you fancy following, you can here.  Would love, love, LOVE to see you there!

I hope you're all as excited as I am.  Thanks so much for your support, you dont know how much its appreciated.

x x